So, you want to be an art collector? For a beginner, it can be an
intimidating concept. Do you need to be a millionaire? Have a degree in art history? Possess impeccable
taste?
None of the above. Art collectors come from all economic classes. Some are
trained art scholars, while others teach themselves by reading and visiting
galleries or museums. What they share is the desire to make an investment in something that will
give them joy and aesthetic pleasure.
Marcia Weber is the owner of
Marcia Weber Art Objects, Inc.,
a gallery that collects and sells works created by self-taught artists. She suggests that beginning collectors see as many works of art as possible.
"Using the Internet to research where to go physically to see intriguing art
is an efficient way to collect," Weber said. "But it should not be a
substitute for also seeing actual examples of works of art in order to
develop an informed opinion. No visual image will ever be as wonderful as
the actual work of art."
Educating Yourself
Begin with the down-to-earth, no-nonsense advice given by
The Art
Lady. She demystifies the
world of
contemporary art collecting in a series of informative articles and suggests
great places to view art on the Web.
To find out what differentiates a collector from an art lover, check out
What Makes an Art Collection? A Collector?.
"The Responsible Collector" at
ArtAdvice.com outlines the three basic
areas important to collectors: documentation, biographical information and provenance.
Learn from the experiences of people who became collectors in this article from
Business Week.
Art-collecting.com sums it up in
How to Collect Art, listing 10 things to remember
when starting a collection. They suggest simple steps like visiting as many art
galleries as you can, talking to other collectors and reading books on artists and collecting.
The Internet can help you follow those steps. About Art History features
Art History 101, artist bios and arts and culture news. You'll learn art
lingo like "gesture drawing" and "armature."
About Art Technology deals with buying and
collecting art. You can explore the ins and outs of collecting, determine
the value of your piece or find a piece to add to your collection.
Take a look at "Art History 101" at
4art.com to
discover what you like. The site also has information on museums, galleries,
publications and current trends. At
World Wide Arts Resources, you'll
find artists, museums, galleries, art education, chats, forums and much more.
Resources for Collecting
"Once a new collector is familiar with various artists' works, the Internet
is an ideal way to locate various works and eventually to consider purchases," Weber
said.
Beginning collectors need to form a trusting
relationship with vendors they patronize. Weber advises online shoppers to look for a 100% satisfaction agreement
and acceptable return policy. Galleries should also be willing to provide detailed
information about each work of art.
Here are some starting points:
- 4ArtSales.com
Offers information on auctions and galleries, buying and bidding
online, and buying and selling art for profit.
- ArtQuest
This listing service connects collectors and sellers via e-mail. "Just Browsing"
will show you some of what's available.
- icollector
Introduces you to the world of art auctions. They
cover a number of categories, including Ceramics and Glass, Modern and
Contemporary Art, and Pictures and Prints.
- Artcyclopedia.com
This fine art search engine will
link you to museum quality art on the Internet.
- Artstar.com
Includes an online magazine, exhibitions,
shopping, searchable contents of "Who's Who in American Art" and more.
- iTheo.com
Showcases emerging
artists and their work.
--- J. Walker
View more articles, exhibits, questions or trivia.
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